Honorable ladies and gentlemen Ambassadors,

It is a pleasure for me to say a few words at the end of this year before I invite the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and the Prime Minister.

First of all, I would like to thank each of you for the work, cooperation, interaction we have had during 2017 and wish you, your families, your teams and of course the countries you represent here in Albania, a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

The year we are leaving behind, was special to us, not only because it was an election year, a challenge Albania has successfully overcome, but was also a year filled with other internal challenges, in the regional context and beyond. Let me briefly reflect on the three pillars on which our work is focused, which constitute the 2018 rails.

First, our biggest challenge is to advance towards the EU membership. We have considered and will continue to consider our relationship with the European Union as a relationship based on mutual engagement and outcomes. Therefore, the contribution you give to Albania and your capital cities, is essential in this regard and I would like to thank you for the partnership you have demonstrated at this crucial moment that Albania is going through.

As you know, we are determined to do everything we can to make 2018 a decisive moment of our European journey. For us, the opening of accession negotiations in 2018 is the right and strategic step, not only for us and the sustainability the reforms that Albania has undertaken, but also for the European Union itself and the European project as a whole.

Our reforms, which focused on strengthening the rule of law and good governance, have created a new moment of internal transformation, just as important and at the same time qualitatively different from the beginning of the 90s transition. Thus, we also hope that our reforms in terms of state consolidation will develop a proper model for all countries in the region.

Second, our clear Euro-Atlantic orientation and commitment to Euro-Atlantic principles and values, have transformed Albania not only in terms of what we do, aligning our foreign policy in all cases with the European Union, but it has become the main contributor to peace and stability in the region.

In a world where the spheres of influence and geopolitical rivalries have resumed, our irreversible anchorage on the Euro-Atlantic trunk, is a double guarantee to maintain and consolidate the pace and content of our transformative reforms in the country. It, also serves as a guarantee to strengthen our sense of security, easing any uncertainty and insecurity around us regarding the regional agenda.

Montenegro’s membership in the Alliance, which we have supported within the framework of the open doors policy this year, has boosted the security throughout the Adriatic-Ionian coast.

Strengthening good neighborly relations remains the foundation stone of our foreign policy. This has been proven by strengthening the framework of bilateral cooperation with all the countries around us without exception. Just a few weeks ago, we held the 4^th joint meeting of governments with Kosovo. This week we will hold the first joint meeting with Macedonia and in the first quarter of next year, we will extend this practice with Montenegro as well.

Our engagement in the region has also been demonstrated through our contribution to strengthening regional cooperation within the Berlin Process and the materialization of two new regional initiatives, the Youth Cooperation Office and the Western Balkans Fund.

Not less important is our commitment to resolving pending issues with our neighboring country, Greece, which has been translated into a new moment of bilateral dialogue. It is also characterized by a constructive spirit, based on international and future-oriented law.

In a wider perspective, this year marked the increase of our contribution within our presence in Kosovo Forces KFOR in Kosovo as well as in the Baltic countries, the Aegean and the Mediterranean.

This year also marked the end of our first mandate as members of the UN Human Rights Council. Working in international organizations rarely gains the right visibility, but I would like to say that we are proud of three years we have worked with partner countries to protect and improve the human rights situation.

We will continue to be committed to respecting fundamental freedoms, as demonstrated by the preparation and adoption of a special law on the protection of minorities in our country. Furthermore, we are fully engaged in the fight against terrorism, violent extremism and strengthening democracies and the rule of law near and far.

Last, we are making efforts to bring our foreign policy closer to the citizens, in order to serve their welfare, the economic development of the country. For this reason, we have decided to give our diplomacy a more prominent economic and development dimension. This would enable to link our activity in a more deep and structured way with foreign aid for development on one hand, and with foreign investments in strategic sectors on the other.

In this context, we are also committed to involving the Albanian diaspora more in the development of the country. We will start next year by registering Albanians wherever they live.

I would like to express my conviction that during next year, we will continue to work as close as possible in order to strengthen relations and protect mutual interests in the bilateral plan. We will, also, unite efforts and energies in the interests of peace, security, welfare and progress for all.

Thank you!